Illini take rematch

Augustine, Brown get some payback

Illinois 68, North Carolina 64

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — For Illinois, it was the first road game of the season--and a whole lot more.

The opponent in Tuesday night's Big Ten-ACC Challenge matchup in the unfriendly confines of the Smith Center was North Carolina, the team that defeated the Illini in April's NCAA Tournament final.

Led by their two championship game returning starters, James Augustine and Dee Brown, the Illini paid back the unranked Tar Heels by edging them

68-64 to end North Carolina's 21-game winning streak in the Smith Center.

The turning point in the game came at the start of the second half when Illinois went on a 13-5 run triggered by a barrage of 3-point shots. Brian Randle hit two of them, and Rich McBride and Jamar Smith each sank one. Four Illini scored in double figures with Brown scoring 14 points, Augustine 13 and McBride and Randle 12 apiece.

After winning their first three games at home, wrapping up the South Padre Invitational Tournament title with two triumphs on a neutral court in Texas and climbing to 12th in the national rankings, the Big Ten's highest-ranked team seemed ready for the Challenge with a capital C.

The Illini turned the ball over 10 times in the first half but rallied with contributions from the subs. In the second half, Illinois clamped down on its defense and held off a Tar Heels rally.